A new track from Malian duo Amadou and Mariam featuring former Noir Désir singer Bertrand Cantat.
The track comes from the new Amadou and Mariam, Folila, which was released in France this week.
The album sees them collaborate with other Western artists including Santigold, TV on the radio and Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters.
The duo have been releasing material outside Africa since the late 90s when they relocated to Paris, and while they enjoyed a a successful career, their 2004 album Dimanche à Bamako that saw them collaborate with Manu Chao giving them a huge international exposure. The album won a Victoire de la Musique best World Music album of the year award.
They went on appear at some of the biggest music festivals in the world, including Coachella, the Lollapalooza tour and Glastonbury, and supported U2 on tour.
While Amadou and Mariam are among the best-known ambassadors for their country, Bertrand Cantat remains a deeply controversial figure in light of events outwith his musical career. Many will never forgive him for killing his girlfriend and see his continuing public career as an endorsement of domestic violence.
Even with Cantat serving four years of an eight year sentence, and Noir Désir finally calling it quits, the question on whether or not Cantat deserves to be critically rehabilitated is unanswered.
Cantat recently collaborated with Shaka Ponk, and it seems that his involvement in music is quite different from the material he made his name with in the days of Noir Désir.
The debate about Cantat will continue to rage. While it does, a song that effortlessly returns blues-flavoured rock to its African roots merits your attention.
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